Cookbooks as time capsules and why we collect them. Current title holder for Guinness World Records for largest collection of cookbooks (2,970 as of July 14, 2013) Current (unofficial) total (February, 2018) is 6,291.

Music – “Don’t Eat The Food That Is Sitting On Your Plate” from Teacher’s Favorites by Barry Louis Polisar. Released: 2000

In addition to the cookbooks in my collection, I have a number of what I call “reference” cooking books. Included among them is one entitled “Dictionary of Foods”, by Bengamin Gayelord Hauser and Ragnar Berg, published in 1932. Berg, co-author of the book, was evidently considered to be “Germany’s foremost food scientist“.

In browsing through the book, I happened upon some facts, which were hitherto (I love that word) unknown to me, however, they may be common knowledge, which I have just now discovered. My readers will no doubt enlighten me. Among their analyses of foods, here are a few snippets of information:

“Two apples, eaten before breakfast each morning, will help to overcome constipation…” (the thought of consuming two apples before I even have a cup of java is unthinkable to me!)

“Bacon…containing a small percentage of protein which is for the most part non-assimilable. For this reason bacon is the least injurious of all animal food products” (wow, and I thought bacon was the most injurious of all animal food!)

“In Southern Europe, where the people are of an emotional temperament, it is said that lemons, when eaten frequently, will calm the passions” (Hey there Frenchie….go suck a lemon and keep your hands off of me!)(with apologies to the French)

And, lastly, there are multiple ads at the end of the book, promoting books by Hauser, among them this one:

HEALTH DAY (GESUNDHEITSTAG)

This sensational one-day-a-week health
Holiday has taken Europe by storm. In
Presenting “Health Day” to America,
Bengamin Gayelord Hauser introduces an
entirely new and novel idea for the
preservation of your health and vitality. One day
a week is all that is required – one day in
which to “revitalize,” “Re-chemicalize,” and
“re-charge” – one day during which time
you will eat and drink only those foods
which will work miracles in a tired and toxic body. $1.00

“Gesundheit” is a common expression used to wish good health to a person who has just sneezed. So, it follows that “Gesundheitstag” might be translated literally as “sneezing day” or “sneezing stay”. It really means “health day”. The book is reminiscent of the current trend to detoxifying diets and purging our bodies of unhealthy stuff. However, whatever the author meant by suggesting that on the one day a week health holiday we “re-chemicalize” is unknown. Maybe that should be the day after, when one puts back all the bad stuff which has just been eradicated!

“Merle, you must make a point of attending my “Gesundheitstag” and bring some pistachios!” (Begamin Hauser & Merle Oberon: Photo Credit: http://www.gettyimages.com)

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About vintagecookbookery

Cookbook lover and collector with a burgeoning collection of cookbooks. Reading and researching food trends, history of cooking techniques and technological advances in cooking, what we eat and why and cookbooks as reflectors of cultures is a fascination for me. As of November 7th, 2013, I hold the current Guinness World Record title for the largest collection of cookbooks: 2,970 at the official count on July 14th, 2013 (applaud now, thank you very much!) The current (unofficial) number is now 6,291. What next? More shelves?